An Application of IBM Machines to the Solution of the Flutter Determinant

An electrical "punch card" procedure for the formation and for the solution of the complex flutter determinant has been developed, using an adaptation of W. M. Bleakney's trial-and-error method. The procedure is of particular value in obtaining answers for a complicated problem in a minimum of elapsed time and greatly reduces the possibility of human errors caused by fatigue and strain. The effects of variation of parameters are readily obtained. Amplitude ratios may be calculated with a small number of additional operations.